From an inconstruable beginning comes transmigration. A beginning point is not evident, though beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving are transmigrating & wandering on. Long have you thus experienced stress, enough to be RELEASED.

The path is not about becoming a better person — it is about putting an end to becoming

Not only masturbating, any thing you like doing again and again and again .... is bad.For example ..... If you like eating apple to the point that you crave for it .... its bad.

Does that mean if I like to meditate every morning that's bad too? I don't think so. Not all desire is bad. Besides, I don't like your usage of the word "bad". I think unskillful is better, because unwholesome desires can tend to lead to problems. However, desire has its place. You might just feel hungry and your body is telling you that you need to eat. Is that "bad"? I wouldn't say so. I think to some degree we need to be discerning and see which of our desires help us and which hold us back. In that sense, masturbating could be a problem since it can be tied in with sexual obsession, etc. At some point in ones spiritual development maybe they can drop masturbation off, since they've developed their mindfulness enough that they can sit through the urge. However, I think that's asking a bit much of someone in the beginning and I don't think it helps when you condemn their actions and call it "bad".

I think I have a handle on lust for visual nudity. In the Art Gallery bookshop I refrained from looking at life drawing and human anatomy books, figuring that they don't have the balanced view that includes the impure parts like blood, liver and contents of the stomach.

On the way home I had to change trains by crossing a platform. In my haste I bumped into two attractive young women, one of whom let out a sexy squeal. I am 6'5" and only 155 pounds but I have strong ch'i from practicing the Alexander Technique. Body contact is a deeper indulgence than looking at nude photos, the temptation of which I'll have to work with.

Purple Planet,I do not have experience with long-term total celibacy. However, in my two stays at monasteries (only 7-10 days each) I had very little difficulty refraining from lust. I had never gone 3 days without relieving my lust, and suddenly 7-10 days with no problem. I think a large part of it has to do with the routine. First, there are very few stimulating sensations and activities... not just sexual, but no computers, no internet, no music, no pretty lights, no dramatic stories, no dirty jokes. Combined with a schedule loaded with physical labor and meditation, all of the keeping busy with not-so-stimulating activity makes celibacy relatively easy. Combine that with exercises to divert the sexual energy and cultivating insight to uproot the deeper causes of lust, and I can see how a monk might resist absolutely, although it would still be a chore (cleaning the sheets, that is).